Refrigeration



Reissued Jan. 13, 1942 to Servel, Inc., New Y of Delaware ork, N. Y a corporation Original No. 2,203,074, dated June 4, 1940, Serial No. 182,707, December 31, 1937. Application for reissue October 4, 1941, Serial No 413,706

4,Cl-aims. (Cl. 62-1195) My invention relates to an absorption type refrigeration systemand it is an object of the invention to provide a system of this greater emciency. f

The single figure of the drawing shows more or less diagrammatically an absorption refrigeration system makinguse of an auxiliary pressure equalizing fluid and embodying the invention.

A generator comprises an upright vessel through which extends a flue ll. The-generator is divided by a partition l2 into an upper chamber l3 and lower chamber Id. The generator is type having heated by a gas burner I5 arranged so that the flame is projected into the lower end of the flue l l. Any other suitable heating means may be provided .as, for instance, an electric heating element or a liquid fuel burner.

An absorber comprises a finned conduit l6 and a vessel H. The lower end of conduit I6 is connected by conduit ill to the upper partof vessel H. An evaporator l9 comprises a coil located in an insulated refrigerator storage compartment 20.' The evaporator and absorber ar interconnected by members including a gas heat exchang- .er 2! as hereinafter described, The generator and absorber are interconnected by members including a triple heatiexchanger 22. The generator is connected to an air cooled condenser 23 part of chamber I3 to the lower part of chamber.

Vapors formed in chamber I3 flow. from the upper part of this chamber through a conduit 1 21 to one end of the outsid passage 28 of the triple heat exchanger 22. Vapors from circulaqtionvessel .flow through a conduit 29 and conduit 2i into the outside heat exchanger passage 28. From the lower end of the heat exchanger passage 28, ammonia vapor flows through a conduit 30 to the upper end of the condenser 23. Ammonia vapor is condensed to liquid in th condenser 23 and the liquid ammonia flows through a conduit 3i into the upper end of the evaporator I9.

Liquid ammonia flows downward in evaporator l9 and evaporates and diffuses into hydrogen by members also including heat exchanger 22,

and the condenser is connected t the evaporator l9.-

The system contains a refrigerant; fluid such as ammonia, a liquid absorbent for the refrigerant such as water, and an auxiliary pressure v equalizing fluid such as hydrogen. The fluids -may-be introduced intothe system. through a charging plug, not shown, .in the absorber vessel l1. A water solutionof ammonia having a con- .centration of about 30% by weight,-is inserted until the liquid level rises to the Ievelofthe charging plug. Hydrogen is then introduced at a pressure such that thetotal pressure in the system v will 'be the condensing pressure of am l4. Vapors formed in chamber ll depress the liquid in this chamber and rise through conduit 24';

to a separating or circulation vessel 25, causing flow of liquid by vapor liquid lift action from chamber ll through conduit 24 into vessel 25. Liquid is conducted from chamber 13 to chamber producing a refrigerating effect. The mixture of hydrogen gas and ammonia vapor, referred to as strong or rich gas, flowsfrom the upper end of evaporator is through a. conduit 32, the inner passage 33 of gas heat exchanger 2| andconduit I8 to the lower end of the absorber l6.

weakened absorption liquid, referred to as weak solution, flows from the circulation vessel 25 through a conduit 34, the inner passage 35 of the heat exchanger 22, and a conduit 36 to the upper end of absorber l li. Weak solution flows downward in absorber l8 and absorbs ammonia vapor out of the gas. Weak or poor gas flows from the upper end of absorber l8 through conduit 31, the outer passage 38 of gas heat exchanger 2|, and conduit 39 back to the lower end of evaporator l 9. v

Enriched absorption liquid, referred to as rich or strong solution, flows from the lower end of absorber it into the absorbervessel H.- Strong solution flows from vessel 11 through a conduit ,40, the middle passage of the heat exchanger 22, and conduit 42. into thegenerator. V V n g p v The lower end of condenser-'23. is connected by a conduit 45, a vessel 48, and a conduit (Sate conduit 18 in the gas circuit. This path of flow may be referred to asfi fvent, and vessel 48 provides a storage chamber forauxiliary. fluidwhich is displaced into thegas circuitunder high room temperature conditions in a knownmanner.

The described circulation of gas through and between the evaporator and absorber occurs automatically due to difference in weights of the columns of rich and weak gas as described in Patent 1,609,334 to von Platen and Munters. Flow of weak solution from the generator It to t up r hambs of IQ through aconduit 28 which connect the lower to the absorber 16 takes place by vapor liquid lift through conduit 24 and gravity fiow from vessel 25 in the previously described path. Flow of strong solution takes place by gravity from the absorber vessel I1 in the described path of flow to the generator Ill. The upper end of the middle heat. exchanger passage 4| is connected to the lower part of -a vessel 43 and the upper end of conduit 42 extends upward into the upper part of vessel 43. The upper part of vessel 43 is connected by a conduit 44 to the vapor conduit 29 for equalization of pressure in vessel 43 and chamber l3 of the generator. The level of stron solution rises in absorber vessel l1 and vessel 43 until it reaches the upper end of conduit 42 whereupon liquid overflows into conduit 42 and fiows as described into the generator.

The triple heat exchanger 22 is located below the surface levels of liquid in the absorber vessel [1 and vessel 43, and also below the surface level in circulation vessel 25 as determined by the point of overfiow from the upper end of conduit 36 into the upper end of absorber It.

In the triple heat exchanger 22, heat is trans ferred from weak solution flowing through inner passage 35 to cooler rich solution flowing through middle passage 4|. Heat is also transferred from vapors flowing in outside passage 28 to the cooler rich solution flowing in middle passage 4|. Both the weak solution and vapors fiow in countercurrent relation through the heat exchanger to the strong solution. Thus, heat from the generator in which has beenadded to the weak solution and vapors is transferred in the triple heat exchanger 22 to the strong solution and thereby returned to the generator.

Cooling of vapors in the outside heat exchanger passage 28 is accompanied by condensation, the heat of condensation being transferred to the of absorption liquid, a rectifier for vapor'from said generator, arranged in direct heat transfer relation with said liquid heat exchanger, and a conduit for conducting liquid condensate by gravity from said rectifier to said generator.

2. An absorption refrigeration system including a condenser, an evaporator, an absorber, a generator including a heated chamber, a rising conduit having its lower end projecting into said heated chamber and forming a vapor lift by which vapor formed by heating of liquid in said chamber raises liquid to a level from which it fiows by gravity to said absorber and thence back to said generator, a first conduit for conducting said raised liquid to said absorber, a second conduit for' conducting the.liquid flowing from said absorber to said generator, a conduit for conducting vapor from said generator to said condenser, parts of said three conduits being in coextensive heat exchange relation at a level below a surface level of liquid flowing from said absorber to said generator, said part of said con:

strong solution. This condensation effects removal of water vapor, this being referred to as rectification. The condensate formed in the outside passage 28 of the heat exchanger drains into a vessel 46 and thence through a conduit 41 and conduit 42 back to the generator Ill. The levels of liquid are substantially the same in vessel 46,

conduit 42, and chamber i3 of the generator In.

This liquid level provides the reaction head or liquid colum for balancing the fluid column in the vapor lift conduit 24. The vessel 46 provides an enlarged chamber which acts to produce stability of levelin chamber [3 of the generator.

Various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention which is not limited except 'as indicated in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An absorption refrigeration system including a generator havinga plurality of compartments one above the other and a heating flue extending upward through said compartments, an absorber, conduits for circulation of absorption liquid through and between said generator and absorber including a liquid heat exchanger and a vapor liquid lift conduit connected to the lowest of said generator compartments to cause said circulation duit for vapor forming a rectifier, and a connection for draining condensate from said rectifier by gravity fiow.

3. An absorption refrigeration system including a generator, a vapor liquefier, an evaporator, anabsorber, a circuit for absorption liquid including said absorber and said generator, said generator including a heated chamber, and said absorption liquid circuit also including a rising conduit having its lower end extending into said heated chamber and forming'a vapor lift by which vapor formed by heating of liquid in said chamber raises liquid to a level from which it fiows through the remainder of said circuit by gravity, a part of said circuit through which liquid flows toward said absorber being in heat transfer relation with another part of said circuit in which liquid flows toward said generator, a conduit for vapor from said generator to said liquefier having a part forming a rectifier and located in heat transfer relation with said heat transfer part of said absorption liquid circuit in which liquid fiows toward said generator, and a connectionfor conducting condensate by gravity fiow from said rectifier into said liquid circuit.

4. An absorption refrigeration system including a plurality of places of. heating, a place of absorption, a vapor liquid lift for raising liquid from one of said places of heating, a first conduit for conductingraised liquid to said place of absorption, a second conduitfor conducting en- 

